Getting to Nepal and Visa

Unless you are an Indian, you will need a visa to travel to Nepal. However, citizens from most countries are eligible for an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport or immigration checkpoints along Nepali borders.

There are mainly three ways to get into Nepal.

1. Visa on Arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport

2. Visa on Arrival at the border if you are entering via India or Tibet

3. Applying online at Nepal’s foreign consulates

Tourist visa fees

Multiple entries 15 Days US$ 30 or equivalent to foreign currency
Multiple entries 30 Days US$ 50 or equivalent to foreign currency
Multiple entries 90 Days US$ 125 or equivalent to foreign currency

Visa for SAARC countries

Free visa for 30 days available for tourists of SAARC countries (except Afghanistan)
Visa for Indian Nationality
Indian nationalities do not need a visa to enter Nepal but to get to Nepal by air or overland, they must show their passport or identity card issued by the Indian government. Children under ten do not have to show identification.

Tourist Visa Extension

The visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $30 or equivalent to foreign currency and visa extension. More than 15 days is US$ 2 per day. You can extend your tourist visa for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December).

Transit Visa

Any foreigners making Nepal a transit point to visit another country will use Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for a night stay. They must have a valid plane ticket. Any foreigners traveling in the accidentally force landing planes under any circumstances will get a transit visa. You have to pay US $5 or the equivalent in foreign currency.

Note: To Learn More about Nepalese visas, click here

Flights to Consider if you are traveling Nepal By Air

Nepal has International Air connections mainly in the following designated countries and places:

Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier of Nepal has a connection:

With flights to and from Delhi to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Hong Kong to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Bangkok to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Singapore to Kathmandu via Bangkok
With flights to and from Osaka to Kathmandu via Shanghai
With flights to and from Bombay to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Dubai to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Osaka to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu
With flights to and from Doha to Kathmandu

Other International airlines operating from and to Kathmandu are Air Arabia (Sharjah), Air Asia (Kuala Lumpur), Air China (Lhasa, Chengdu), ArkeFly (Amsterdam), Bahrain Air (Bahrain), Biman Bangladesh (Dhaka), China Eastern Airlines (Kunming), China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou), Dragon Air (Hong Kong), Druk Air (Delhi, Paro), Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), Flydubai (Dubai), GMG Airlines (Dhaka), Gulf Air (Bahrain), Indian Airlines (Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi), Indigo Airlines (Delhi), Jet Airways (Delhi, Mumbai), Jet Lite (Delhi), Korean Air (Seoul), Pakistan International Airlines (Karachi, Islamabad), Qatar Airways (Doha), RAK Air (Ras al-Khaimah), Silk Air (Singapore), Spicejet (Delhi), Thai Airways (Bangkok) and United Airways (Dhaka).

Entry points to consider if traveling to Nepal By Road

Nepal is connected by road from India and China (Tibet only). The common borders to enter Nepal by road are as follows:

Kakkarvitta, in Jhapa on the Nepal-India border (Eastern-border)
Birgunj, in Parsa on the Nepal-India border (Central Nepal)
Belhiya, Bhairahawa-Rupandehi, in the Nepal-India border (Western-Nepal)
Jamuna, in Nepalgunj-Banke on the Nepal-India border (Mid-western Nepal)
Mohana, Dhangadi-Kailali in the Nepal-India border (Far western Nepal)
Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar-Kanchanpur, in the Nepal-India border (Far-western Nepal)
Kodari, in Sindhupalchowk on the Nepal-China border (northern border)

All foreigners, except Indians, must have a visa. Nepali Embassies and consulates overseas issue visas conveniently. You can get an on-arrival visa, at Tribhuvan International Airport or the Nepal border checkpoints mentioned above.

The visa is valid for entry for three to six months from the date of issue. Children under 10 get free visas. Your passport must have at least six months of validity. Indian nationals do not require a visa. Citizens of South Asian countries and China need a visa, but these are free.

But citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan, do not get an on-arrival visa. Hence, they must contact their local embassy.